Demi Lovato leaving 'Sonny with a Chance'

April 19, 2011 01:40 pm CDT

Los Angeles, CA, United States (AHN Entertainment) - Demi Lovato is not taking a chance with her recovery anymore. The 18-year-old actress, who was rehabbed after punching a back-up dancer on tour, said she is leaving the Disney series "Sonny with a Chance" to recuperate from her ordeal.

Demi abruptly pulled out of the Jonas Brothers' international tour and went to rehab in November for "emotional and physical issues."

It was subsequently revealed that the Disney princess had punched back-up dancer Alex Welch after she thought the other girl informed the actress' tour managers of her inappropriate behavior.

The producers of "Sonny with a Chance" announced that they would resume filming without Demi to give the actress time to get well "without distraction or pressure." Demi played the title role in the comedy series.

After completing her rehab treatment in January, it was thought that Demi would go back to the show, but she said that she is now focusing on other matters.

She told People, "It made sense for me to go ahead and leave the show to focus on my music. It's kind of sad for me that a chapter of my life has ended but there couldn't be a better time for me to move on."

"I don't think going back to Sonny would be healthy for my recovery. Being in front of a camera would make me nervous."

A rep for Disney said in a statement, "We respect Demi's decision to focus fulltime on her music and not immediately return to her acting career. She is a talented young woman and our hearts are with her as she continues to take action and improve her health and bounce back from adversity."

Meanwhile, Demi has granted an interview with ABC News, in which she admitted to an eating disorder and cutting herself as a form of expressing her shame.

She also said that she takes "100 percent, full responsibility" for her altercation with Welch.

She said, "I feel horrible. [She] was my friend. They sat me down and said, 'You can't live like this.' For the first time in my life, I started to feel."

Her interview will air on "Good Morning America" and "20/20" on Friday.